impatientinventor wrote:Massa looks pretty good... Any muscle damage like Schui's that might prevent him from getting back into the car in the next month or so?

i dont think we can find that now, maybe once he starts training and strats karting, if there are any issues then it might come out..Although MSC was ok with karting and coudl do f1, so i think we have to wait for a friday session to find out if massa is totally fit..

It might not be the best season for the Scuderia Ferrari Marlboro, but the possibility to drive one of the Reds must be very appetising, at least when one considers the number of drivers, who have been brought up by the media and the fans and even by some of the drivers themselves as candidates for Felipe Massa’s F60 number 3, without even considering some suggestions from the afterworld…The list is so long that almost every letter in the alphabet has a corresponding driver…but let’s see the details:

A as in Fernando Alonso B as in Jules Bianchi, Mirko Bortolotti and Sebastien Bourdais C as in David Coulthard D as in Anthony Davidson F as in Giancarlo Fisichella and Luca Filippi G as in Marc Gené H as in Nico Hulkenberg K as in Robert Kubica L as in André Lotterer and Vitantonio Liuzzi P as in Nelson Piquet (Jr.) and Giorgio Pantano R as in Valentino Rossi and Davide Rigon S as in Takuma Sato and Bruno Senna T as in Jarno Trulli V as in Jos Verstappen Before anyone feels offended we want to underline that we have the highest respect for all of these drivers and we apologise also in the name of those who brought up their names to those who haven’t been mentioned, like Lewis Hamilton or Jenson Button, but there’s always time for some fresh ideas.

Well, if I was them, I wouldn´t make a joke of it. Some very good drivers mentioned in that list. I would even react today and either start saturday and sunday only with Kimi or get another driver ready for tomorrow´s free practice.Badoer is more than s***. How could this guy win the F3000 in the early 90s?

Ferrari will wait for the outcome of Felipe Massa's medical examination in Miami on Monday before deciding on its driver plans for the Italian GP.

Massa is to undergo a check by renowned doctor Steve Olvey, which should provide a clear indication of how long the Brazilian will be out of action for.

Once the team is aware of that verdict, Ferrari will then decide on whether to stick with current replacement Luca Badoer for Monza or put another driver in the car.

Ferrari team principal Stefano Domenicali said: "With regard to what we are going to do for the next races, we will tell you in the next three days.

"We will use all our consideration following the medical check that Felipe will do tomorrow, and then we will put on the table all the different things that are correct and have been considered and then we will make a decision."

Domenicali dismissed reports in the Italian media that Fernando Alonso had agreed a switch deal from Renault, and ruled out the Spaniard as a contender.

Giancarlo Fisichella remains favourite for the drive, especially after his shock second place finish at Spa.

Domenicali also declined to comment on if Kimi Raikkonen's victory had changed the team's driver's plans for 2010, amid speculation that the team is trying to move the Finn aside for next year.

"No one has said anything different from the team point of view," said Domenicali.

"This is a lot of speculation. I really hope that you people keep writing that, because if this is Kimi's reaction then please do it day and night.

"It is important to understand the situation and I don't think it is a point of discussion that we need to start today. That is the answer."

Ferrari does not expect Felipe Massa to return to the Formula 1 cockpit until the start of the 2010 season following the results of his his medical examination in Miami on Monday.

The Brazilian visited the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit of the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami for a thorough examination by respected doctor Steve Olvey to asses his chances of recovery.

The prognosis was good, but the team said in a statement that with plastic surgery on Massa's skull due to be undertaken in the next few days, the team was not betting on Massa being ready to race in 2009.

"Obviously, the results of examination has been warmly welcomed in Maranello, in the sense that the team can count on Felipe 100% for the start of next season," said a Ferrari statement.

Ferrari does not expect Felipe Massa to return to the Formula 1 cockpit until the start of the 2010 season following the results of his his medical examination in Miami on Monday.

The Brazilian visited the Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit of the Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami for a thorough examination by respected doctor Steve Olvey to asses his chances of recovery.

The prognosis was good, but the team said in a statement that with plastic surgery on Massa's skull due to be undertaken in the next few days, the team was not betting on Massa being ready to race in 2009.

"Obviously, the results of examination has been warmly welcomed in Maranello, in the sense that the team can count on Felipe 100% for the start of next season," said a Ferrari statement.

Maranello, 1st September 2009 – It was a long day yesterday for Felipe Massa, seen by doctors. The Ferrari driver flew to Miami on Sunday for some important check ups carried out by Professor Stephen Olvey, Head of the Jackson Memorial Hospital Neuroscience Intensive Care Unit.

The checks (neurometric and impact tests, cognitive capacity tests) all had a positive outcome, just like the eye exam: everything is in order for Felipe to get back to racing. Now there has just to be carried out some plastic surgery at the brain box, where the spring at the accident at the Hungaroring hit his helmet. The surgery will take place in the upcoming days. After a short convalescence Felipe can then gradually start with physical preparations.

“I’m very happy about the results,” Felipe told the official Ferrari website before boarding the plane back to Sao Paulo. “After the small surgery in the next days I can finally start to go to the gym to get back into shape and drive some tests in karts. On the track with a Formula 1 single-seater? Let’s take it step by step: at the moment I’m concentrating on taking up physical activities, which is a great step forward.”

Naturally the results were received with great joy and satisfaction at Maranello with the prospect to be able to count on Felipe 100% for the start of the next racing season.

Felipe Massa says that he got a thumbs up from his visit to top motor sport doctor Steve Olvey in Florida this weekend. He is to be allowed to resume training after a small medical procedure in the next few days. But a statement from Ferrari suggests that he will be training for a return in 2010, not this season.

“I’m very happy with the outcome of the exams,” Massa said. “After the small surgery that I will have done in the next few days I can finally start working out a little in the gym to get back in form, and then I can start some kart training.

“When will I be back on a Formula One track? Let’s take one step at a time. Right now I’m just focused on starting physical activity again, which is already a big step forward.”As far as I know the operation he needs is to replace a section of the frontal lobe of his skull, on the left side above his eyebrow, about two inches by an inch, which was removed when he had his original surgery. It is apparently quite a simple procedure, to replace it with a carbon plate or similar, but there is a mandatory 20 day recovery period afterwards.

Although Massa is not saying when he expects to be driving again, one of the main purposes of his visit was to establish a date, so that Ferrari can make a decision on what it does driver-wise for the remainder of this season and next. Team boss Stefano Domenicali said on Sunday that he would be announcing his plans in three days, which is tomorrow (Wednesday).

The tone of Ferrari’s reaction to today’s news implies that they do not expect to see Massa in a car again this season, “Obviously, the results of examination has been warmly welcomed in Maranello, in the sense that the team can count on Felipe 100% for the start of next season,” it said.

Today’s development makes it more likely that the team will now call on the services of Spa pole sitter Giancarlo Fisichella, with Tonio Liuzzi stepping up to a race seat at Force India.